OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (Sept. 17, 2024) – The City of Oak Ridge Stormwater Division and its Healthy Waters Program will host the 2024 Clean the Clinch event next month for National Make a Difference Day.

On Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., volunteers are encouraged to come out to Melton Lake Park to “Clean the Clinch.”

“Our hope with this event is that members of the community will feel empowered and more connected to the environment by volunteering to clean up trash debris in the water and along the banks. Plus, it’ll be a refreshing break on the waterfront,” Healthy Waters Program comember Cash Winn said.

Comember Mya Moseley commented, “This event will not only be impactful to the volunteers, but to the fish and wildlife at the lake. It will bring awareness to the amount of litter that ends up in the river and around Oak Ridge.”

Volunteers will meet at Melton Lake Park near Adventure Outdoors, where members of the Healthy Waters Program will help individuals launch into the lake from the nearby boat ramp and direct land volunteers for litter pickup along the greenway.

Volunteers are needed to make this event possible. Thanks to sponsors River Sports Outfitters and Adventure Outdoors, limited watercraft will be available for volunteers to use at no cost to remove litter from the water; volunteers are also encouraged to bring their own canoe or kayak if they have them. There will be opportunities for everyone at this cleanup, as the Healthy Waters Program will also need help removing litter along the shoreline and land surrounding the lake. Litter pickers, vests, gloves, and trash bags will be provided. Volunteers are recommended to wear close-toed shoes and clothes they don’t mind getting messy in.

If you are interested in volunteering, register at https://bit.ly/CleanTheClinch2024, by scanning the QR code below, or by email at [email protected]

Questions can be submitted by email at [email protected] or by calling (865) 425-1890.